Hoist for cleaning venetian blinds



United States Patent() 3,050,284 HOIST FOR CLEANING VENETIAN BLINDSMorris K. Lerner, Flushing, N.Y. (Z3-55 Bell Blvd., Bayside 60, NY.)Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,439 2 Claims. (Cl. 254--139) Thisinvention relates to a cleaning device and more particularly, to amethod and a means for cleaning Venetian blinds.

The periodic cleaning of Venetian blinds is a tedious operation for thehousewife because she must actually contact, either with a brush or arag, each surface of the closely spaced blind slats. This is made evenmore dilicult by reason of the height of the upper portion of the blindand the presence of blind straps which shield a portion of each slatfrom easy access. Because of the above, Venetian blinds are seldomthoroughly cleaned.

It is therefore amongst the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a means and a method for the cleaning of Venetian blinds whichpermits the blinds to be thoroughly and completely cleaned with verylittle effort on the part of the housewife.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide adevice wherein the blinds themselves are utilized to agitate a cleaningsolution to effect the cleaning of the blinds.

Briefly stated, a cleaning device in accordance with the presentinvention comprises a roller rotatably mounted on a support, straps onsaid roller arranged to hold a blind at both ends thereof with theportion of the blind intermediate its ends hanging suspended from saidstraps, said straps being adapted to be Wound and unwound by said rollerand arranged so that one end of the blind is raised and the other end ofthe blind is lowered when the roller is rotated in one direction, theaction being reversed with a reversal in the rotation of the roller.

A fuller understanding of the invention and the manner in which itsobjectives and advantages may be realized will become apparent from theVfollowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l, in the directionof the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of a cleaning device in accordancewith the present invention with the blind mounted thereon for washing.

Referring now to the drawing, a cleaning device in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIG. l consisting of a roller 1l)rotatably mounted between the cross pieces of a pair of spaced apartU-shaped supports 12 and 14. The threaded ends of upper and lowerbracing members 18 and 20, respectively, extend through aligned openingsin the tubular legs of supports 12 aud 14. The assemblage is heldtightly in position by clamping nuts 22. Braces 18 and 20 impartrigidity to the structure so that the same is self-supporting. A washer24 helps to clamp the assemblage in position.

Roller is removably mounted upon its supporting structure, its axle 26being readily removable from :the journals 28 therefor, as may yreadlybe seen in the drawing. A crank 30 aiiixed to axle 26 permits roller 10to be readily rotated by hand for reasons hereinafter appearing. As maybe seen, roller 10 may be rotated in either direction by crank 30. Thesupporting structure for the roller may readily be disassembled by theremoval of wing nuts 22.

Aixed to and wound about the roller are straps 32 adapted to be woundand unwound on said roller. Three "ice straps are provided in theparticular embodiment of the invention shown herein. The number ofstraps, however, may be varied. If the roller is of wood, the straps maybe tacked or stapled thereto. The straps are each provided at their endswith a hook 34 and a catch 36 for said hook. By reason of this hookingarrangement, a loop may be formed at the end of each strap.

In accordance with the invention, the straps may be so arranged thatwhen roller 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction, for example, the twoouter straps will unwind and thereby be lowered, while the centrallypositioned strap will be raised upwardly as it is wound about theroller.

Conversely, when the roller is rotated in a counter clockwise direction,the action will reverse itself and the centrally positioned strap willthen be lowered while the other two straps will be raised. In thisparticular instance, the straps are of a woven composition, but may beof plastic or other rollable or windable composition.

In practice, the cleaning device of the present invention lis positionedin a tub, such as bath tub 38 shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that thelegs of supports 12 and 14 are provided with non-skid caps at the endsthereof to grip the porcelain of the tub which is exceeding slipperywhen wet. Such caps are indicated by numeral 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, a Venetian blind is mounted on the cleaning deviceby looping the straps 32 about the end members of the blind. In thisparticular instance, the centrally positioned strap is looped about oneend of the blind while the other two straps are looped about the otherend of the blind. This particular arrangement gives the blind a verysatisfactory balance. It may be seen that the blind now hangs freelysuspended from the straps.

Tub 38 is then filled with Water and a detergent added thereto. When theroller is rotated, it will be seen that one end of the blind will beraised and the other end lowered, -by reason of the arrangement ofstraps 32 on the roller. A reversal in the direction of the movement ofthe roller will result in a reversal of the movement of the blind. Itmay be thus seen that the slats of the blind will thoroughly agitate thecleaning solution in tub 38 when the blind is moved as aforesaid. Thisagitation makes for a very thorough cleaning of the blind. It will berealized that by reason of the above described arrangement, all portionsof the blind may be thoroughly immersed in the bath and cleaned.

When the device is no longer needed, it may be diS- assembled and storedfor use at a future time.

Tubular supports 1'2 and 14 should be of an aluminum composition so asto be resistant to rust and other corrosive forces.

It may be seen that by reason of the present invention a means and amethod for the cleaning of Venetian blinds has been provided whichpermits the blind to be thoroughly and completely cleaned with verylittle elort on the part of the housewife. Further, the device of thepresent invention utilizes the agitation principle for cleaning and theblind itself serves as the agitator in the device. Additionally, thedevice of the present invention may be completely disassembled forreason of shipping, storage and repair, and readily assembled withoutdifficulty.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to onepreferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art, after reading this specification, that Various changes andmodifications may .be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning device for a Venetian blind, comprising a roller rotatablymounted on a supporting frame, said 3 roller having crank means yformanually rotating the same in either angular direction, a pair of strapssecured to said roller at opposite ends thereof and wound thereon inclockwise direction, said `straps -being provided with supporting meansengageable with one end of a Venetian blind, an additional strap securedto said roller and being wound thereon in counter-clockwise direction,said additional strap being provided withV supporting means engageablewith the opposite end of said Venetian blind, whereby said Venetianblind is supported at both ends with its intermediate portion hangingdownwardly in the form of a loop and whereby rotation of said roller inone angular direction causes said pair of straps to be Wound further onsaid roller and said additional strap to be unwound therefrom andthereby causing the rst mentioned end of the Venetian blind to be raisedand the second mentioned end to be lowered, and whereby rotation of saidroller in the opposite angular direction causes said pair of straps tobe unwound therefrom and said additional strap to be vfurther woundthereon, and causing said second mentioned end of the Venetian blind tobe raised and said Iirst mentioned end to be lowered.

2. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supportingframe is provided with four legs spaced apart a distance smaller thanthe inside dimensions of a conventional bathtub to permit of standingSaid supporting irame in such bathtub and thereby suspending therein theintermediate portion of the Venetian blind.

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